Method of making furniture standards and the like



Jan. 31, 1928. 1,657,449 E. C. AMSDEN METHOD OF MAKING FURNITURE STANDARDS AND THE LIKE Filed Jan. 19, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 31, 1928. 1,657,449

E. c. AMSDEN I METHOD OF MAKING FURNITURE STANDARDS AND THE LIKE File 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan. 31, 1928. 1,657,449

E. C. AMS DEN METHOD OF MAKING FURNITURE STANDARDS AND THE LIKE Filed Jan.19, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Jan. 31, 1928.

1,657,449 E. c. AMSDEN METHOD OF MAKING FURNITURE STANDARDS AND THE LIKE Filed Jan. 19, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Jan. 31, 1928..

tiNlTED STATE PATENT OFFICE.

C. AMSDEN; 0F BOSTON,

MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNQR TO'AMSDEN 8n BARNAED,

INC, 0F BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS. A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

METHOD OF MAKING; FURNITURE STANDARDS AND THE LIKE.

Application filed January- 19, 1927. Serial no. 162,19fit.

This invention relates to methods of man i'lfacturing; standards ofthe general type used in school furniture, opera chairs, set te es,.and the like.

Standards of. this character usually in: clude legs which terminate in feet that are spread apart for a considerable distance. in

order to give the standard the desired star oilrty. If the legs andbody portion ofsuch a standard are made of integral construction and from sheet metal, the stock from which the blank iscut must, accordingto the usual processes, be at least as wide as the estremedistance between the feet. The usual methods of manufacturing such standards therefore involve the formation; of a very substantial amount of scrap and this, in turn,

increasesthe expense of manufacture of the standards. The presentinvention deals with this problem, and it aims to improve the methods of manufacturing such standards with a view to economizing material, while at the same time providing a strong, rigid and entirely satisfactory product. It, is an especially to devise a method of manufacturing stand ards from, strip stock much narrower than. the distance between the feet of the finished standard.

The nature of the invention willbe reads ily understood from the following; descrip tion when read in connection with the ac.- companying drawings, tures will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In a prior application I have disclosed a novel construction of school desli. standard and a method of making it. For convene ience the present invention will be herein. disclosed in connection w1th the manufac-' ture of the standard shown in my earlier application, it being understood that the invention is in no wise limited to the manufacture of the standard shown.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a perspective View of a school deslrincluding standards constructed in accordance with this invention Fig. iris a cross-sectional view on the line mfanFigm 1; i

Fig. 2 is a plan view showings. blank for school desk standardand a method ofcutting this blank from strip stock;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of. a sheet metal blank for a school deskjstandardg.

important object of the invention.

and the novel fea-- Figs. at andb and 6 are perspective views showing, successive stepsin the: manufacture of a standard according, to this invention;

Figs"? and 8 are plan view." partly in cross-section, forming the" feet;

Figs; 9, l'Oandll'l are cross-sectional views illustratingadditional steps in this method;

Fig. 12 is a planview, partly in cross-section, showingafinished foot;

Fig. l3'is a similar view showing a slightly different foot construction; and

Figs. 1d and 15 are perspective views showing a somewhat; different method of making a desk standard from the blank shown inFig. 3.

Referring first to Fig. shown comprises a desk top or box common construction supported on 1, the desk there 2 Of a standards which, in this instance, are adjustable;

Eachof these standards comprisesan upper unit 3' and a lower unit f, the upper unit having" grooves dto receive tongues 5-5 and lugs 6-6 which are integral with and form part of the body. portion of the lower unit of i A bolt? projects through a does. not include the marginal flanges '1212..

Referring to Fig. 2 it will be observed that theblanksfor the standardsare cut out of a strip, S of, flat sheet metal of suitable thickness and of a, width The cuttingr of the blanks may conveniently beperformedwith a die of the shape, shown at 13', Fig. 2, this die being adaptedto sever the strip S into suitable lengths for the individual blanks; and at the same time to divide; each length fora substantial distance to form legs. Each blank so formed, there: fore, has: a body portion 4 145-14 extending side of'said'lbodv portion. The cutting off operation preferably shapes the upper end of showing stepsinthe method of substantially equal. to that of the body portion of the standard.

and two legs by side from one end the body portion 4', forming the lugs 5 above referred to. A complete blank is shown in Fig. 3.

The legs 1t1t are next bent out of the plane of the body portion of the blank as shown in Fig. 4. In this same operation or in independent operations, if desired, flanges (L--(t are formed along the inner margins of the legs and the ends of the legs are pressed, as shown at 7), to form feet.

The opposite edges of the body portion 1 of the blank are next bent upwardly into positions approximately at right angles to the plane of said body portion of the blank thus Forming the flanges (Z cZ, F ig. 5. This bending operation takes place substantially along the lines cc, Fig. which are approximately continuations of the inner edges of the flanges. cia. Consequently, this operation results in rotating the free ends of the. legs, that is, the ends opposite the body el', away from each other and spreading" them apart. This spreading of the end or one leg away from the other takes place due to the fact that the end of the leg is offset for a considerable distance from the axis on which the bending or rotative movement occurs. The bending operation preterably is stopped when the flanges a-a are brought substantially into the plane of the body portion 4 as shown in Fig. 5, oi the blank, where said flanges form the main portions of the legs, and the outer margins of the legs i'orni continuations of the flanges cZ-cZ at the Opposite edges of the body 4. I

It will be observed that the distancewhich the feet 6-4) are spread apart will depend upon the degree of curvature or amount of offset given to the legs 14;14: at the stage of manufacture shown in Fig. 4. Also, that if one of these legs is bent initially farther out of the plane of the body portion of the blank than the other leg, then the end of the former will be spread farther away from the center line of the blank than'the latter when the legs have been rotated about the axescc as above described.

In order to increase the stillness and ri idity of the legs, their inner margins preferably are pressed into a slightly offset relationship, as shown at 15-45, Fig. 6, this oftset running up into the body portion 4" of the standard. At the same operation the lugs 6-6,.Fig. 6, may be formed. The lugs 5 may also be turned up at this time, or more preferably at the same time that thefianges (I -cl are formed.

The toottrimining and shaping operations are illustrated in Figs. 7 to 12, inclusive, the roughly shaped foot being first trimmed to the desired outline, as shown in Fig. 8, and then pressed to form the marginal flange 16 and the screw head sockets 17, as shown in Fig. 10. Figs. 11 and 12 shows the foot after it has been finally shaped and the holes punched through the bottoms ol the sockets to receive the screws.

Instead of making the log l l with a cornparativoly sharp or abrupt angle, it may be so shaped as to have a smoother and more gradual curve, and such a construction is shown at 14 in Fig. 13.

The standard above described in connection with Figs. 3 to 6, inclusive, does not have the inturned i'l'iarginal flange 153 of the standard shown in Figs. 1 and 1, although such a flange obviously could be formed along the edges of the legs of the standard shown in Fig. 6, if desired. Where such a flange to be made, I prefer to tltlllpt the prone shown in l igs. 1-1 and 15.

Stan-tin with the blank shown 111 Fm. 2-5. I: t:

the legs of the blank are first curved out oi. the plane of theblank, as shown in .liig. 1 1, andeither during this step, or at an independent operation, flanges e are formed along the inner edges of the legs and flanges 12 along the outer edges. These flanges continue through the body portion at of the blank. :l orining channels in the opposite n1argins of said part. The channelled sections of the body portion a are next bent upwardly and toward each other, as indicated by the arrows in Fig. let, thus rotating the two legs about thelines j"-/" as axes and thereby swinging them apart. This move- 1nent separates the ends ol. the legs in the manner previously described and takes the central channel section out at the body portion of the blank. In fact, this bowling oi the body portion with the sinuiltaneous 1o tation of the can be produced sii'uply by pressing the entire raised central portion of the part l downwardly and flattening it out, as shown in Fig. 15. In this method, also, as in the process above Clfi". scribed, the amount of spread given to the legs will depend upon the degree of curve ture imparted to them in the step illustrated in Fig. 14. The bonding or rotative inovw Inent is stopped when the inside flanges ./;-----B are brought into the plane of theibody pen tion of the blank where they form continua tions of said portion, and the portions of the legs between the flanges 12 and 12 then form the edge flanges 10 ot' the legs as shown in Figs. .1 and 1. It should be noted that the process illustrated in Figs. 14 and 15 can be used to equal advantage in producing the standard shown in Fig. 5 and which does not have the flanges 12*.12.

' The partly shaped standard shown in Fig.

15 may next have the marginal offsets l5 and the lugs 6 pressed into it as shown in Fig. 5, and the feet may then be shaped as above described.

It will nowbe understood that this invention provides a method of making standards of the character described. which is very simple and is far more economical of stock lUU llll

till

neon-e49 than the prior processes, themaximum Width of stock required being only'that necessary for the body portion of the standard. All of the bending operations can be performed performing'the various operations above described will be obvious to those skilled in the pressed metal industry, and no description or illustration of them is necessary here. )bviously the design of the dies and the mechanismsused for operating them will depend to some extent upon the nature of the equipment available, the size ofthe presses, and the like. The order of the steps of the process also will depend to some extent upon these considerations, certain steps being combined in some cases where it would not be desirable or economical to combine them in others. The invention therefore is not limited to the precise order of steps above described.

Further-more, while I consider it prefera ble to cut the blanks out of narrow strip stock, the blank can he died; out of wide sheet stock if desired, the invention effecting nearly as great a saving in stock where this practice is followed sinre the blank required may be much narrower than in prior processes. l Thile, therefore, preferred methods of practicing the invention have been above described, it will be understood that considerable variation is permissible in the steps and their order of performance While still retaining the essential features of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I desire to claim as new is:

1. That improvement in processes of making standards for furniture and the like,

which consists in providing asheet metal blank having two legs lying side by side, bending one of said legs out of the plane of said blank, flanging the latter leg, then bend in the flanged log into an angular relationship to the plane of the blank, and during the latter bending operation rotating the free end of said flanged leg outwardly and may from the opposite leg.

That improvement in processes of mak- :ing standards for furniture and the like, which consists in providing a sheet metal blank having two legs lying side by side, bending one of said legs out of the plane of d blank, forming a flange along one side of the latter leg, then bending the opposite side of said flanged leg near the body of the blank into an angular relationship to the plane of said body, and thereby rotating the free end of said flanged leg outwardly and aa'av from the opposite leg.

1 improvement in processes of making standards for furniture and the like, which consists in providing a sheet metal,

blank having two legs lying side by side, bending one of said legsout ofthe plane of said blank, sh ping the latter leg to provide a flange extending longitudinally thereof, and then rotating said flanged leg in a direction to swing its free end away from the other leg.

4. That improvement in processes of making standards fr furniture and the like,

which consists in providing a sheet metal blank having two legs lying side by side, bending one of said legs out of the plane of said blank, fornung a flange along one side of the latter le ad'acent to its free end and their.

- e rotating tne freev end or the reg SOllttllgfiltr about an axis extending longitudinally of the portionof said leg adjacent to the. body of. the blank to swing said free end away trom the opposite leg. hat improvement in processesof making standards for furniture and the like,

which (.UllblSn-s in providmg a sheet metal blank havin two legs lying side by side, bending one of said legs out of the plane of said blank, shaping the latter leg to provide a flange ektendiin longitudinally thereof, then rotating the free end. of said flanged leg about an axis extending substantiallyv along one edge of the portion of said flange aojacent to the body of the blank, and thereby swinging the free end of said bent leg away from the opposite le 6. That improven'ient in processes of making standards for furniture and the like, which consists in providing a sheetmetal blank having two legs lying side by side, bending one of said legs out of the plane of said blank, forming a flange along one side of said bent leg, and then bending said blank to bring said flange substantially into the plane of the body portion of the blank.

7. That improvement in processes of making standards for furniture and the like, which consists in providing a sheet metal blank having two legs lying side by side, bending one of said legs out of the plane of said blank, shaping the latter leg to provide a flange extending longitudinally thereof, then rotating the free end of said flanged leg about an axis extending substantially along one edge of the portion of said flange adjacent to the body of the blank, until said flange is brought substantially into the plane of the body portion of the blank, and thereby swinging the free end of said bent leg away from the opposite leg.

8. That improvement in processes of making standards for furniture and the like. wlich consists in providing a sheet metal blank having two legs lying side by side, bending one of said legs out of the plane of said blank, forming a flange along the inner side of said bent leg, and then bending lhe' body portion of said blank in' a direotion to swing the free end of said bent leg away from the opposite leg.

9. That improvement in processes of making standards for furniture and the like, which consists in providing a sheet metal blank having two legs lying side by side, bending one of said legs out of the plane of said blank, forming a flange along the inner side of said bent leg, and then bending said blank to bring the portion of said bent leg adjoining said flange into approximately a right angle relationship to the plane of thebody portion of said blank.

.10. that llllPlUVQlllblll; in processes of making standards for furniture and the like, which consists in providing a sheet metal blank having two legs lyin side by side, bending one olf said legs out of theplane of said blank, forming a flange along theinner side of said bent leg. and then bending; the body portion of said blank about an axis forming substantially a contininitio'nof one edge of said flange and thereby forming a flange on said body. portion and also swinging the free end of said bent leg and-.3 from the opposite leg.

11. That improvement in processes of making standards for furniture and the like.

which consists in providing a sheet metal blank having two legs lying side by side, bending said legs out 01 the plane of the body portion of said blank, forming a flange along the inner edge of each leg, and then bending the body portion of the blank to wring the tree ends of said legs away from each other.

12. That iin n'ovenient in processes of making; standards for furniture and the like, which consists in providing a sheetnietal blank having two legs lying side by side, bending one oi said legs out of the plane of said blank, forming flanges along the op posite edges of said bent leg, and then bend ing said blank in a direction to swing the iree end of said bent leg away from the opposite leg.

That improvement in processes of making standards for furniture and the like. which consists in providing a sheet metal blank having two legs lying side by side, bending: said I shut otthe plane of the body portion ot the blank, forming flanges along both edges of each of said legs and continuing said flanges into the body portion of the blank, and then bending the body portion of the blank to swing the free ends o'l' said loos away from each other.

EUGENE o. AMSDIEN. 

